Home Additions & In-Law Suites
Structural additions, second stories, in-law and multigenerational suites, sunrooms and screened porches — designed, permitted, and built by a registered Maryland home builder.
Learn moreHome remodeling & additions in Ellicott City, Maryland
Two Ellicott Citys, really: the historic district with its own review board and tax credit, and everything west of it. The rules are not the same.
Reviewed by Bill Gmeinwieser, President ·
MHIC #16606 · MD Home Builder #1369 · Updated September 2026
Direct answer
Horizons Unlimited Home Improvements remodels and builds additions throughout Ellicott City, Maryland. Licensed since 1993 — MHIC #16606, Maryland Home Builder Registration #1369, BBB A+. Ellicott City splits into two very different jobs. Inside the Ellicott City Historic District, exterior work generally requires a Certificate of Approval from the Howard County Historic Preservation Commission before it begins — and that same approval is what unlocks the county's historic property tax credit. Outside the district, it is a conventional Howard County permit. Free estimates: 410-796-1333.
If your home is in the historic district
Ellicott City was founded in 1772 as Ellicott's Mills, and the historic district around Main Street is regulated accordingly. Exterior alterations there generally require a Certificate of Approval from the Howard County Historic Preservation Commission, reviewed against the county's published Ellicott City historic district design guidelines.
Two things homeowners consistently get wrong about this:
- Approval comes before work, not after. Retroactive approval is not the process, and work done without it can have to be undone.
- There is real money in doing it properly. Howard County offers a historic property tax credit — 25% — for qualifying preservation work, but the Commission has to approve the work before it starts for it to qualify. Homeowners who skip the paperwork to save two weeks routinely give up a quarter of the project cost.
The Commission can be reached through the Department of Planning and Zoning at 410-313-2350 or preservation@howardcountymd.gov. State and federal historic credits may also apply to some properties. Confirm what your property qualifies for before you finalize a scope.
Practical note on old houses. Historic work is slower and needs
different materials — profiles that match, repairs rather than replacements where the guidelines call
for it. Budget for that at the start. A bid that prices a historic exterior like a 1990s subdivision is
a bid that has not read the guidelines.
Flooding, and what it means for finished space
Ellicott City has been hit by severe flooding, most memorably in July 2016 and May 2018. If your property is in or near a floodplain, that affects what can be built, how low-lying finished space has to be detailed, and what your permit review will include — floodplain review is one of the secondary reviews that can extend a Howard County permit timeline.
It also affects basements specifically. We are frequently asked to finish or re-finish basements in this area. The honest conversation is about drainage, sump capacity, egress and materials that survive water before it is about flooring choices.
Outside the district: hills, older homes, and additions
Most of Ellicott City's housing is well outside the historic district — everything from 1950s ranchers to 1990s and 2000s colonials out toward Route 40 and Marriottsville Road. There the constraint is usually the terrain. Ellicott City is genuinely hilly, and a sloped lot changes an addition's foundation, drainage and site access, sometimes substantially. It is worth having the grade looked at before a design gets fixed in your head.
In Ellicott City
What we build here.
The same ten services, under one Maryland license — MHIC #16606 and Home Builder Registration #1369.
Kitchen Remodeling
Full gut kitchens and targeted updates — cabinetry, countertops, lighting, flooring, and the electrical and plumbing work behind the walls.
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Bathroom Remodeling
Tiled showers, soaking tubs, double vanities, and full accessibility conversions — waterproofed properly and finished cleanly.
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Roofing
Asphalt shingle, cedar shake, slate, metal, and EPDM rubber. GAF, CertainTeed, and Firestone certified installation.
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Siding
Vinyl and aluminum siding, trim, and wrap — installed with proper flashing and house-wrap detailing so the wall assembly stays dry.
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Windows & Doors
Energy-efficient vinyl replacement windows with custom color matching, plus entry, patio, and French door replacement.
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Decks & Porches
PVC, composite, and wood decks, screened porches, and covered porches — engineered, permitted, and inspected.
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Egress Windows & Basement Code
Code-compliant basement egress windows and window wells — the single requirement that decides whether a finished basement bedroom is legal.
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Storm & Insurance Repair
Wind, hail, and fallen-tree damage — from a single leak to structural rebuild, handled by one licensed contractor instead of four subcontractors.
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Custom Homes
Design/build from concept to certificate of occupancy, including site development and permitting, under Maryland Home Builder Registration #1369.
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Ellicott City: questions and answers
Do I need approval to remodel a home in the Ellicott City historic district?
Exterior work on a property inside the Ellicott City Historic District generally requires a Certificate of Approval from the Howard County Historic Preservation Commission, reviewed against the county's Ellicott City historic district design guidelines, and it must be obtained before work begins. Contact the Department of Planning and Zoning at 410-313-2350 or preservation@howardcountymd.gov to confirm whether your specific property is in the district.
Is there a tax credit for historic home repairs in Howard County?
Yes. Howard County offers a historic property tax credit of 25% for qualifying preservation work, and state and federal historic credits may also apply. The critical condition is sequencing: the Historic Preservation Commission must approve the work before it begins for it to qualify. Starting first and applying later forfeits the credit.
Can you build an addition on a house in the Ellicott City historic district?
Often yes, but the design has to satisfy the historic district guidelines in addition to zoning and building code — massing, materials, window proportions and how the addition reads from the street all matter to the Commission in a way they do not elsewhere in the county. Plan for a longer design and approval phase, and get the Commission's input early rather than presenting a finished design.
Does flooding affect what I can build in Ellicott City?
It can. Properties in or near the floodplain are subject to floodplain review as part of the county permit process, which affects finished floor elevations, what may be built, and how long review takes. Ellicott City experienced severe floods in July 2016 and May 2018, and for basement work in particular the drainage and materials conversation should come before the finish conversation.
Who does home remodeling in Ellicott City, MD?
Horizons Unlimited Home Improvements, Inc. of Elkridge serves Ellicott City with additions, kitchens, bathrooms, roofing, siding, windows, decks and basement work. Family-operated since 1993; MHIC #16606; Maryland Home Builder Registration #1369; BBB Accredited A+. Free estimates from the owner at 410-796-1333.
Planning something in Ellicott City?
Free estimate, done by the owner, who will tell you honestly what the local approvals path looks like before you spend anything on design.